Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand cites a broken pipe in Syracuse to show her support for Water Infrastructure Financing Act

A BROKEN water main in the 200 block of E. Onondaga Street in Syracuse in May, creating a huge crater and sending water streaming into basements along the street. Half the 500 miles of pipe in Syracuse are more than a century old.

By Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
As we work to rebuild our economy, one of the challenges we face in Central New York is our aging infrastructure. From the roads and bridges we travel on, to the water we drink and the sewer systems that protect our natural resources, infrastructure across New York desperately needs repair. The federal government has failed to provide the resources we need to rebuild these structures and enable long-term economic growth.

As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I am working to deliver critical federal funding for New York communities, like Syracuse, that need more attention and investment into local infrastructure programming.

One of the most important infrastructure challenges we must address is sewers. From managing inefficient and aging systems to installing new systems in growing communities, Central New York property taxpayers are being forced to deal with exorbitant costs to upgrade and maintain sewers.

If nothing is done, the lack of infrastructure will prevent Central New York from growing and local governments will be forced to tax residents to pay for expensive, but necessary, upgrades to inefficient wastewater systems. Major water pipe breaks, like the one Syracuse residents experienced on Mother’s Day, when flooding damaged churches, a daycare center and business downtown, and crumbling sewer pipe failures, are a real concern.

Recently, the EBW Committee passed the Water Infrastructure Financing Act, which would provide $20 billion nationwide for the Clean Water Revolving Fund over the next five years. This fund would deliver billions of federal dollars to communities to rebuild failing sewers and filtration systems.

Last year, New York received just over $75 million from the fund. In this legislation, we secured $244 million next year for New York, an increase of more than $168 million from the previous year. This funding would help Central New York build the infrastructure it needs and provide taxpayers much needed relief.

In addition, this critical legislation includes assistance to deal with combined sewer systems. Many communities have combined sewer systems in which wastewater and rain runoff are carried by a single pipe. When there are heavy rains or snow melts, the system often reaches capacity. To prevent flooding or damage to the treatment plant, combined sewer systems are designed to dump excess wastewater into nearby rivers and lakes.

The combined sewer overflows do not just discharge excess storm water, but also untreated human and industrial waste. This threatens environmental and human health and the local economy. To assist communities facing fines resulting from these systems, the Water Infrastructure Financing Act includes $1.85 billion specifically for projects that address the issue of combined sewer overflows.

This legislation is expected to come before the full Senate soon.

By securing federal dollars for local communities, we can open more opportunities for economic growth through downtown revitalization, ensure cleaner environments and protect community health and well-being through clean water.

Investing in infrastructure not only enables economic development and long-term sustainability, but it creates jobs and can lower the property tax burden on our families. Efficient sewer systems are not only cost-effective, but help protect our natural resources. Inefficient systems can release harmful nitrogen into our water, polluting the ecosystem. Stronger sewer infrastructure benefits everyone — from homeowners, small businesses and young adults to nature and fishing enthusiasts and farmers.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat, is a U.S. senator representing New York.>